Like the rest of you I got the latest ALP survey asking me to dwell me which of THEIR issues I felt was most important. This is my response: My list for anyone who wants to know what I think are the major issues instead of asking me to pick one of theirs: Cost of Living especially housing. Unemployment, especially for the young and older workers. Education / Training for all according to need and ability. Restoring the balance between university and other education for the young in particular. Especially apprenticeship and traineeships. Ageing Population. Adequate pensions, healthcare and housing Protecting and improving Medicare. Reform of the Family Court and associated agencies to ensure fairness to all parties. All legislation and government action to pass these fundamental tests: 1. Everyone is equal before the law; 2. Everyone is treated as an individual; 3. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty; 4. Penalties for any breach are proportionate to the offence. 5. Action against any individual will be based on the evidence and proportionate to the facts. No one will be discriminated against because of personal characteristics including race, religion or gender. The destruction of our Manufacturing Sector. Fair, decent and timely treatment of Asylum Seekers. An independent approach to Foreign Affairs and Defence matters. Priority given to achieving and maintaining good relations with the emerging Superpowers China and India (but not at the expense of Australian jobs). Defeating the neocon economic agenda. Ending and reversing the ideologically driven sell off of public assets. Ensuring that government departments have adequate resources and staff to do the job asked of them properly (especially the grossly understaffed Centrelink). The overwhelming disdain most people have for the political system in general and politicians specifically. Political Corruption - we need a Federal ICAC. Continuing democratic reforms to hand control of the ALP back to the rank and file as the founders envisaged would always be the case.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 03:20:16 +0000